The blogosphere is once again alive with the latest developments among provinces within the Anglican Communion. It breaks my heart to see some of my faith heroes backed into defensive corners over institutional matters that I believe are not consonant with their deepest hearts (my humble opinion). This morning I read an essay by Brian McLaren that holds up the historic Anglican instinct of avoiding extremes when any number of controversies might cause us to turn on each other, rather than turn with each other toward a world in great need. Brian offers these helpful words:
In its aspiration to be one global community the Church will not find it easy to resist being divided by denominational and nationalist ties. In cherishing the beauty of holiness, the Church will need to work hard to resist having its soul reduced to a list of correct doctrines. To resist these constrictions and reductions, the Church must hold to another ancient value: catholicty.
There are two models of catholicity. One is a colonial or imperial model: unity and universality are maintained by submission to one dominating will. The other is the humble or charitable model: unity and universality are maintained by a generous spirit of inclusion. The spirit of inclusion is, at its core, a refusal to practice elitism (from Ancient Faith, Future Mission, p. 15).
I continue to believe, somewhat naively I’m sure, that Anglican Christians (read all Christians) around the world can find a center that will hold. That center, I believe, is not a doctrinal or ecclesiastical consensus, but a person, Jesus the Christ, and his call to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as well as we love ourselves.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I sure hope that you are right, Rick!